"Me? Scared?" Freya asked instinctively. "But didn't you just say I was happy?"

Adela shook his head. "Happiness and fear can coexist. I've seen it plenty in casino duel matches. A player draws an excellent hand, thrilled at the thought of winning, yet still worries that the opponent might have an even better one. That fear never leaves them.

"Happiness comes from what you already have, while fear comes from what your opponent could snatch away at any moment. Freya, who are you playing against, and what kind of game is this?

"This class is boring anyway. Instead of paying a therapist to talk,...